In this month's RTÉjr Book Club, with thanks to our friends at Children's Books Ireland, Ruth Concannon has some great books to inspire us all to protect and preserve our world as we look ahead to Earth Day 2024 on 22 April.
There's nothing better than the great outdoors! As the springtime weather improves many of us will find ourselves naturally drawn to spending time in nature and with Earth Day taking place on 22 April, our thoughts might also turn to how we can preserve and keep our planet safe for years to come.
There is no doubt that sustainability, climate change and protecting our planet have been huge topics in recent years, and there are many books which explore these big topics in age-appropriate and solution-focused ways for young readers.
Whether you want to find out more about the wonderful wildlife of Ireland, get a dose of nature or learn about the world that feeds us, check out Children's Books Ireland’s new recommended reading list. Protecting Our Planet is a guide to books on the topic of the wonders of the natural world and the ways that we can protect it from climate change.
With a junior list aimed at readers in primary school and a senior list for post-primary readers, there is something for everyone covering wildlife, sustainable living, and tackling climate anxiety.
Below is a selection of some top picks from our junior list which will be available for free download from mid-April via our website Children's Books Ireland!
A Little Dose of Nature: Outdoor Fun to Help Happiness Bloom, Ivy Kids Eco 32pp ISBN 9780711279612
A super activity book from planet-friendly publisher Ivy Kids Eco, fusing nature, psychology and fun in the great outdoors. Dr Greenwood’s background in psychology succeeds in linking enjoyment of nature with an improvement in mental wellbeing in a child-friendly way. Accessibility is central to this book, with activities that can be enjoyed in the city or countryside. Importantly, Bray’s illustrations also show a diverse range of children of all abilities partaking in suggested activities, highlighting that nature is for everyone to enjoy. (Non-fiction, Age 5–8, 8–10)
Wonders of the Wild by Éanna Ní Lamhna, illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald, The O’Brien Press 60pp ISBN 9781788494083
This introduction to the wildlife of Ireland is a non-fiction account, but not simply a mere book of facts. Each page reads as though we are wandering across the countryside with an informed guide in our midst and every question answered along the way. Between more complex descriptions and definitions, and illustrations combining the artist’s personal style with anatomical accuracy, this book succeeds in educating through the curiosity of discovering these creatures for the first time in a way that never feels laborious. (Non-fiction, Age 5–8, 8--–10)
Plants to the Rescue by Dr Vikram Baliga, illustrated by Brian Lambert, Neon Squid 80pp ISBN 9781684493296
We think nature needs saving, but did you know that plants, trees and fungi can help us? Horticulture expert Dr Vikram Baliga tells us all about challenges like climate change, extreme weather and how animals are losing the habitats they need to survive – but plants are resilient and inventive and have many surprising abilities! Packed with incredible facts and plenty of detail for the avid young naturalist, this book uses vibrantly colourful illustrations which makes it universally appealing. This excellent non-fiction guide gives us plenty to be optimistic about. (Non-fiction, Age 8–10)
Gáirdin Mháire na mBláth le Tatyana Feeney, An Gúm Foras na Gaeilge 32lch ISBN 9781857919721
Scéal álainn faoin gcaidreamh idirghlúine a thagann faoi bhláth nuair a chuireann Máire na mBláth aithne ar phobal na scoile áitiúla. Mar a thuigfeá óna hainm féin, is garraíodóir den scoth í agus tá cáil uirthi agus ar a gairdín ildaite bláthanna fud fad an pharóiste. Cuireann stíl éadromchroíoch mhaisitheoireachta Feeney leis an atmaisféar séimh sa scéal. Spreagann an scéal thú maireachtáil i dtiúin leis an dúlra agus tosaíonn an léitheoir ag machnamh faoina gcúram don chomhshaol.
A beautiful nature-focused intergenerational story about Máire, who shares her knowledge and love of gardening with children at a nearby school. Transforming their schoolyard from a drab, grey space to one filled with blooms, Máire soon learns the true meaning of community from her new friends. (Aois 8–10)
The World that Feeds Us by Nancy Castaldo, illustrated by Ginnie Hsu, Words & Pictures 80pp ISBN 9780711277694
Guided by the seasons and warm inviting illustrations, readers take a journey around the world and back again exploring sustainable farming. A comprehensive guide, this book touches on practical issues such as farming techniques, machinery, animals, and crops while also looking at the ways that humans interact with seasonal growing through markets, festivals and celebration foods. A thorough and fascinating look at food production that is certain to bring readers a new sense of gratitude towards food producers and the food on their plate. (Non-fiction, Age 8–10, 9–11)
The Light Thieves: Search for the Black Mirror by Helena Duggan, Usborne 336pp ISBN 9781474991100
We join friends Grian, Jeffrey and Shelli in their quest to save the world which has fallen for the lies of evil tech entrepreneur Howard Hansom, who is stealing the energy from the sun. The second book in Irish author Helena Duggan’s The Light Thieves series, can be read as a standalone and is fast-paced and full of adventure. A novel with some big messages, it explores our reliance on technology, the impact of our destruction of nature, who controls the media and how we fact-check our information. (Age 10–12)
Ruth Concannon is the Publications Officer for Children’s Books Ireland, the national charity and arts organisation that champions every child’s right to develop a love of reading. Their mission is to inspire a love of reading in children and young people in Ireland, to share their expertise and enthusiasm with the adults who guide and influence them, to champion every child’s right to excellent books and live literature events and support the artists who make that goal possible across the island of Ireland.
See www.childrensbooksireland.ie for more.
And you can look back on all the RTÉjr Book Clubs here for more great reading recommendations.
